Türkiye Ranks Second in the World in Pasta Exports

Turkey ranks second after Italy in pasta exports, with billions of people from 168 countries enjoying Turkish pasta. Every age group consumes pasta as a beloved food.

Pasta is a food item that complements many dishes and enhances their flavor. With varieties including cheese, chicken, tomato, ground meat, fish, yogurt, mushroom, cream, vegetable and basil, it appeals to every palate and brings satisfaction while meeting humanity's hunger with delicious taste.

Muhammet Öztürk, Chairman of the Aegean Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association, noted that Turkey's pasta exports have increased by 125% over the past 10 years, rising from USD 418 million to USD 940 million. He stated that in the nine-month period of 2025, Turkey exported USD 627 million worth of pasta and expects pasta exports to exceed USD 1 billion by year-end.

New target in pasta exports: USD 1.5 billion
Öztürk, noting that Turkey ranks second after Italy in pasta exports, said: "Turkey is a strong player in the cereals, pulses, oilseeds and products sector. We have an annual export volume of USD 12 billion. We account for 45% of Turkey's food exports. Pasta adds strength to our capacity. Pasta represents 3.5% of Turkey's total food exports. Our sector's six exporter associations participate in food fairs worldwide under the Turkey Food Exporters brand. In 2026, with the strong support of the Turkey Food Platform (TGP), we will organize Foodist Istanbul Food and Beverage Products Fair—Turkey's most comprehensive and efficient fair in the food sector—on 1–4 September 2026 at the TÜYAP Fair and Congress Centre. We will bring together decision-makers from the food sector from all corners of the world. Through these marketing activities, over a five-year period we aim to increase Turkey's food exports to USD 50 billion and pasta exports to USD 1.5 billion."

Referring to Turkish pasta's strong presence across the world—from Europe to the Far East, from the Americas to Africa, from the Middle East to Latin America—Öztürk concluded: "Our production of high-quality durum wheat and our broad product range are our strengths. Turkey alone supplies 20% of global pasta exports. We export more than 70% of the pasta we produce. Our top three export destinations are Ghana, Somalia and Japan. In the January–September period of 2025, we exported USD 72 million worth of pasta to Ghana, USD 68 million to Somalia and USD 56 million to Japan."